Wednesday, January 2, 2013

A BLEAK YEAR



                We are one day into the New Year. Already it appears that in terms of my ancient WWII expressions; it will be a SNAFU year. This will be applicable to government and directly affect the economy.

To start at the top; Political brinkmanship continues to be the name of the game in DC. The “Clift” has been temporarily averted only because the villainous Republicans put their country first and conceded everything to the President while receiving no concessions from the Democrats as to spending. Indeed t there was two actions taken that will negatively affect the budget: increasing unemployment benefits for another year, and restoring the 27% cut in physician Medicare reimbursement.   

The first action was needed for humanitarian reasons; the second was to save Medicare from the loss of “providers” who render the care.  With few participating doctors the plan would only be able to dispense compromised care.

Taxes will be raised, although I doubt if it will affect many in Plainfield. But, nothing significant was adopt6ed that would slow down this Country’s plunge into fiscal catastrophe. Once again the debt ceiling has been reached and to prevent the nation from being unable to pay its debts it will be raised as an emergency measure

This is as if one maxed out his credit cards and was able to procure another one. Ultimately a point will be reached when the only out is bankruptcy. For some that has been and still is a way of life.  
In the long run the Democrats will find that their self-centeredness will have resulted in a Phyric Victory.

State and County politics will have not changed. New Jersey as well earned its reputation as the ‘Soprano State”.

Locally, the dysfunction government of 2012 will not only remain in place but what little restraints the Council exercised in 2012 will be a thing of the past with the addition of Reverend Brown to the Council. The Mayor will now have a majority to support her policy of avoiding fiscal accountability. 

If this will lead to more questionable financial actions as reported by others remains to be seen.
To date no official body seems to be interested in unraveling the City’s finances.  The City stonewalls any questions about the Senior Citizens Center bill rendered by the developer; the UEZ 2 million dollars, Recreation’s  accounting for the 4th of July funds, JFK’s plan for the Muhlenberg Campus, IT &Media including the PCTV filming which are not shown, as well as other  outstanding questions.  

We can only hope that the one shining star of 2012; Eric Jackson the Director of Public Works will not terminate his employment here.

We also can hope that the lingering GI bug has finally vanished.

2 comments:

  1. Here is an excerpt from an interesting opinion pc from Pravda.
    “Americans, never give up your guns,”Written by Stanislav Mishin, a POravda Opinion Piece.
    These days, there are few few things to admire about the socialist, bankrupt and culturally degenerating USA, but at least so far, one thing remains: the right to bare arms and use deadly force to defend one’s self and possessions.One of the first things [the Soviets] did was to disarm the population. From that point, mass repression, mass arrests, mass deportations, mass murder, mass starvation were all a safe game for the powers that were. The worst they had to fear was a pitchfork in the guts or a knife in the back or the occasional hunting rifle. Not much [to worry about] for soldiers.While President Putin pushes through reforms, the local authorities, especially in our vast hinterland, do not feel they need to act like they work for the people. They do as they please, a tyrannical class who knows they have absolutely nothing to fear from a relatively unarmed population. This in turn breeds not respect but absolute contempt and often enough, criminal abuse.
    For those of us fighting for our traditional rights, the US 2nd Amendment is a rare light in an ever darkening room. Governments will use the excuse of trying to protect the people from maniacs and crime, but in reality, it is the bureaucrats protecting their power and position. In all cases where guns are banned, gun crime continues and often increases. As for maniacs, be it nuts with cars (NYC, Chapel Hill NC), swords (Japan), knives (China) or home made bombs (everywhere), insane people strike…
    The excuse that people will start shooting each other is also plain and silly. So it is our politicians saying that our society is full of incapable adolescents who can never be trusted? Then, please explain how we can trust them or the police, who themselves grew up and came from the same culture?
    No it is about power and a total power over the people…Do not be fooled by a belief that progressives, leftists hate guns. Oh, no, they do not. What they hate is guns in the hands of those who are not marching in lock step of their ideology.

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  2. It's gonna get even bleaker!
    The "ESTABLISHMENT" wants it their way or no way. Unless you agree with them completely, you are in the wrong! They know what is best for You and for Me! They need to save us from ourselves!

    Makes you wonder who the ruling power in Washington answers to. Surely it is not the people!

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